Background: Diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor of cardiovascular disease. There is evidence that vitamin
D decreases type 1 diabetes mellitus risk during early adulthood and improves insulin secretion and resistance
in diabetic patients. Low vitamin D level was observed to increase the cardiovascular disease.
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the protective effect of vitamin D on diabetic vascular damages in aorta.
Materials and Methods: 40 adult male rats were randomly divided into: group I(control), group II (vitamin D),
group III (diabetic) and group VI(diabetic plus Vitamin D)(n = 10 rats /each group). Injection of streptozotocin
(60 mg/kg) as a single dose intraperitoneal to induce diabetes. Vitamin D was administered orally every other
day in a dose of 12.5 mg/kg. After 12weeksof treatment period, aortic samples were collected for histological
examination.
Results: Morphological changes of aortic tissue in diabetic untreated group in the form of reduction of tunica
media thickness and areas of tunica intima detachment. The elastic lamellae became irregular, fragmented or
branched. Shrunken dark or lysed nuclei of smooth muscle fibers were seen in tunica media of diabetic group.
The diabetic treated group with vitamin D showed more or less normal structure of the layers of aortic
tissue with comparable thickness to the control group.
Conclusion: Vitamin D may reduce the vascular complications and tissue injuries induced by diabetes in aorta.
This effect has a positive influence on the function of the cardiovascular system.